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Lenovo Data Centre Group sees growth in SA, SADC

Lauren Kate Rawlins
By Lauren Kate Rawlins, ITWeb digital and innovation contributor.
Johannesburg, 08 Oct 2018
Dr Chris Cooper, general manager of Lenovo Data Centre Group for Middle East, Turkey and Africa
Dr Chris Cooper, general manager of Lenovo Data Centre Group for Middle East, Turkey and Africa

Lenovo sees a large growth opportunity in the SADC region for its server business.

This is according to Dr Chris Cooper, GM of Lenovo Data Centre Group for Middle East, Turkey and Africa, who was speaking to ITWeb in an interview following the Lenovo Transform 2.0 event in New York.

"Both South Africa and SADC present a large growth opportunity in Lenovo's ThinkAgile and ThinkSystem solutions. The alliance partnerships that Lenovo holds are also key to growth in various technologies," says Cooper.

The Lenovo Data Centre Group (DCG) offers solutions that combine hardware and software systems with managed services, designed to handle the entire technology life cycle.

The transition to the fourth industrial revolution will see every company becoming a technology company, and requiring data centre solutions to store and manage the copious amounts of data they will doubtlessly produce.

Lenovo DCG says this is already happening across sectors in Africa and SA.

"The industry is becoming a focus, as organisations in both private and public sectors are prioritising technology as a means from which to gain a competitive edge. Although technology is being adopted at a slower rate than in Western Europe and America, South African governments and businesses understand the benefits that technology can bring, so we expect that new technologies will be prioritised at a faster rate," he adds.

The company has had a presence in SA since 2015, following the purchase of the X86 business from IBM. According to research firm IDC, Lenovo is ranked third in the global server market.

"We're seeing growth in multiple sectors because our solutions are so flexible and scalable. In manufacturing, banking and government we are also seeing good growth, but also in the SME sector because our solutions are designed to address different verticals and workloads in very unique and efficient ways."

He says Lenovo DCG runs many significant data centres in SA.

"The list is long and distinguished, partnering with some of the largest alliance partners in the world in the process."

Recently, it was announced Lenovo and NetApp have formed a global, multifaceted, multibillion-dollar partnership. The companies plan on developing innovative technology and a simplified experience to help customers with digital transformation and to modernise their legacy IT architecture.

Focus on diversity

Lenovo is a global company and has stated that creating diversity in teams is just as important as updating infrastructure in the modern business.

"Being a frontrunner in providing technology solutions to our partners and customers, it's imperative that we have the highest calibre people working in the organisation," says Cooper.

"Also, reflecting the right levels of diversity in the organisation shows that we take empowerment of people and the country as a whole very seriously. For us, diversity and inclusion are hallmarks of Lenovo's global culture. They give us a competitive advantage - one that has shaped our history and will shape our future."

Cooper adds: "Gender balance is a key component of this diversity culture and a driver of success."

Speaking about women in technology in the African region, he says: "Personally, I'd like to see a lot more effort going into developing women in this sector. The ICT sector is vast and diverse and offers many opportunities for women. The reality is that in today's tech industry, most engineers are men, designing products for a market that is at least 50% made up of women. I'd like to see more women in positions of leadership, able to influence their companies' product development or strategic decisions, because whether it be product design or sales, a diverse and gender-balanced team is a key success driver.

"Some of the most talented people in the sector are women. It may be a contentious topic to some, but I firmly believe that there needs to be a lot more effort and focus on women; supporting the need to balance being a mother and a high performer. This is a very difficult task at the best of times, but somehow we need to support women in a much more effective manner, and unless this is addressed, there will be a certain level of attrition," Cooper adds.

Lenovo has implemented policies in its company that support a culture of women's professional advancement, including flexible working schedules, childcare and paid parental leave.

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